Hope Sacco can trace her doubts about herself as far back as when she was 6 years old, when the brunette asked her parents to buy her a blonde wig. Anna Doherty can recall even in recent years being so unsure of herself that she would shy away from speaking up in class. Determined to move past...

It takes most people two hours to complete a series of corn mazes at Lawyer's Winterbrook Farm — maybe 40 minutes if you're really an expert. But for those responsible for the maze, it's more of a yearlong effort. And, as families flock to corn mazes across the state each fall, it's not enough...

When you're trick-or-treating, there are several factors to to consider — namely, where to rack up the most candy safely and in the least amount of time. Thankfully, Baltimoreans looking for the best places to trick-or-treat don’t have to go far, according to online real estate database company...

A friend once shared a parable with me about a man watching a butterfly struggling to emerge from its cocoon. Trying to help, the man snipped the butterfly's cocoon. The butterfly emerged easily, but it had a swollen body and shriveled wings. The man continued to watch it, expecting that any minute...

When it comes to life-threatening illnesses in children, many families are learning there is more to treatment than pills. There are prepared meals and outings, opportunities to paint a picture and even a fresh set of clothes. There once was little consideration given to patients' and their families'...

During the annual, month-long Free Fall Baltimore event, hundreds of arts and cultural attractions, performances are more are offered — as the name suggests — for free. And today, that means admission to the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore comes at no cost. Tickets are typically $14-$18, so it's a pretty...

Last year, Dennis Kistner came face-to-face with a dilemma many new parents know all too well: He was tired of reading the same stories to his son, Little Dennis. “We always read the same ones,” Kistner, a Dundalk native, said last week inside the Canton bar he manages, Mahaffey’s Pub. “Some books...

Eight Baltimore city schools are receiving washers and dryers under a partnership aimed at improving attendance. Whirlpool partnered with the Family League of Baltimore to launch a laundry program in select community schools, a specialized group of 56 city schools throughout the city that partner...

The latest evidence of how Peabody Institute dean Fred Bronstein has steered the conservatory toward the community surrounding it: The Maryland chapter of Young Audiences, the national arts education advocate, is collaborating with Peabody to bring instrumental and vocal music to 181 city schools,...

Theresa Adams learned in psychology class that her impulsive nature likely landed her in prison. She took the class at the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women, where she also tackled calculus, studied Spanish and recited Shakespeare while serving seven years. "I could have completed a degree...

Maryland should spend $2.6 billion more on public education and revamp the formula used to calculate how much is spent on each school district, according to a two-year study by a national consulting firm. The 620-page report was presented to a state commission Thursday as the panel prepared to spend...

About 400 students at Oakland Mills High School walked out of their classes and into the school stadium for about an hour Wednesday morning to support a change in school system policy some said would enhance communication of racial threats between the administration and community. During the school's...

The school bus driver involved in the Southwest Baltimore crash last month in which six people died had a history of seizures and had been involved in at least 12 crashes in the past five years, according to an incident report released Wednesday by the National Transportation Safety Board. The driver,...

Federal employees and their spouses will now be able to get a grant worth 10 percent off their tuition for certain law programs at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, the federal government announced Tuesday. The grant will apply to the Master of Science in Law and the Master of Laws programs...

The staff at City Springs Elementary/Middle School in Baltimore released a statement Monday defending a former coworker charged with slamming a second-grader into a wall as he was escorting him to the office last month In the statement, drafted "collectively" by the school's staff, members say...

Following an election that many said was a call-to-action to address the current board's lack of accountability, Howard County School Board members Kirsten Coombs, Christina Delmont-Small and Mavis Ellis were sworn in Monday evening surrounded by more than 100 supporters. The three new school board...

More Maryland Family News

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently updated guidelines advising pediatricians how to identify and help teenagers at risk for suicide. The group wants pediatricians to screen patients for suicidal thoughts and risk factors for suicide, such as bullying. Dr. Kim Cass, chair of pediatrics...

After serving four years in the Army, Michael Trotter Jr. wanted to explore the America he and his counterparts fought for. "I remember saying to myself in Kuwait, if I made it home, I'm definitely going to travel," said Trotter, 34. "What is it about America that several of my battle buddies gave...

Theodore Roosevelt, our 26th president, was a politician, an explorer, a soldier and an author — a busy guy. But throughout a life that took him from New York City to the remote Amazon basin, his love of two things — the outdoors and his family — was always apparent. His frequent letters to his...

Three Howard County families have bragging rights to one spectacular accomplishment: They recently put their “normal lives” on hold to travel the world for a year, give or take a month or so. The Schlossnagles of Fulton, the Robinsons of Columbia and the Rivenbarks of Glenelg share the highlights...

We all have our favorite spots — the places that the kids ask us to take them over and over again. And Howard County seems to have more than its share of beloved family venues, from the Enchanted Forest and petting zoo at Clark’s Elioak Farm to the screaming fun at Terrapin Adventures. But sometimes,...

The 17-foot fishing and pleasure boat on display at a memorial service for John L. Champion spoke volumes about the man, who was so well-loved that friends decided to launch a Howard County nonprofit in his name. The Highland resident’s prized Boston Whaler served as a testament to his ability...

Editor's note: Since this piece was first published Aug. 3, the mother of the crying baby has said she was not in fact ejected from the facility, but was in the process of stepping outside with her child when Mr. Trump suggested she leave, which she understood to be a joke. "Don't worry about that...

On weekend mornings, they come crawling on to our bed — my side always — on all fours like lion cubs, padding across the comforter. They peer at me, looking for signs of wakefulness. I pretend to be asleep, but somehow I know who is who. Through the slits under my eyelids, I can make out a gap where...

The trial of Brock Turner, the Stanford student convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman, and the subsequent furor over his six-month sentence, ignited new discussions about sexual violence and what we can do to prevent it. Because his victim is far from alone: One in five girls can...

Dyslexia is not an uncommon problem among the nation's school children, though many kids are not getting the help they need to succeed, said E. Mark Mahone, a pediatric neuropsychologist at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. Proper assessments and treatment can help and can prevent secondary mental...